Worrlie is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Worrlie family lived in Lancashire, in the township of Whalley while Whaley is a small village in Derbyshire.

Early Origins of the Worrlie family

The surname Worrlie was first found in Lancashire where they were descended from Wyamarus Whalley, who accompanied William the Conqueror, from Normandy, and was the Standard Bearer at the Battle of Hastings. The Conqueror gave him the lordship of Whalley in the county of Lancaster. In 1296 an Abbot and about 20 monks arrived in Whalley to create a church that would become Whalley Abbey. One of the census records of the name was Robert de Whalley who died before 1193 and was listed as the rector of Rochdale.

The church of St. Michael in Aughton, Lancashire would be an important ecclesiastical stronghold for the family. For it was there that a long tradition of rectors in the family was established. The first was Henry le Waleys who was rector in 1292, followed by Thomas le Waleys in 1303, Gilbert le Waleys in 1317, John le Waleys in 1318 and Henry (son of Richard) le Waleys in 1337. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
The first of the tenants of Litherland, Augton "was Richard le Waleys, who also held a third of the manor of Aughton. In 1212 it was found that he was holding a ploughland in Litherland for 10s. He died in 1221, and his son and heir Richard agreed to pay 40s. -four times the annual rent-as his relief, and was placed in possession. After the death of Richard, a Robert le Waleys appears to have been the principal member of the family; (fn. 10) possibly he was a brother and held some part of the manor, acting as guardian to John le Waleys of Litherland, the son and heir of Richard, who lived on till the beginning of the next century, and was after his death said to have been a 'centenarian.' " [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].

Early History of the Worrlie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Worrlie research.Another 236 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1607, 1675, 1660, 1686, 1719, 1718 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Worrlie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Worrlie Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Worrlie include Whalley, Whaley, Walley, Whally and others.

Early Notables of the Worrlie family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was General Edward Whalley (c. 1607-c. 1675), an English military leader during the English Civil War, one of the regicides who signed the death warrant of King Charles I of England. At the Restoration, Whalley, with his son-in-law, General William Goffe, escaped to North... Another 124 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Worrlie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Worrlie family to Ireland

Some of the Worrlie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Worrlie family to the New World and Oceana

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Worrlies to arrive on North American shores: General Edward Whalley who settled in Massachusetts Bay, and died there in 1679; Naomi Walley arrived in Pennsylvania in 1684; Elizabeth Walley settled in Virginia in 1650.

The Worrlie Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Mirabile in profundisMotto Translation: Wonderful in the Depths.

Citations

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'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].